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Saving money on water

Give yourself a water test

Since we are all reluctant about taking shorter showers and letting our favorite flowers die in the garden for the sake of conserving water, why not become a water miser and start conserving in other smart, and easy, ways first. Sit down with a pen and pad and think about the ways you waste precious water every day: hosing your concrete down, letting your lawn sprinklers spray everything but the lawn, running endless water when brushing your teeth, shaving, or doing dishes, using a ton of water to wash your car instead of using a few buckets and sponges or taking it to a car wash that recycles water, filling a bathtub to a level that Shamu would enjoy. In fact, give yourself a little test for a week. EVERY time you use a water source think about using that source with conservation in mind. You'll create an innate conservation awareness that will save your planet and your dollars.

Web sites:

http://yosemite.epa.gov/OPA/ADMPRESS.NSF/8401b8750376e55085257359003d480...!

Tame the green monster

We all love our lush green lawns, but keeping them green requires a huge amount of water. There are, however, ways to start immediately reducing the amount of water you are using on your lawns. Water your lawn early in the day--or in the late evening--to minimize evaporation. If you have a sprinkler system, be vigilant. Check for leaks, overspraying and malfunction and see that they are set properly to avoid wasting water. Check with your local nursery to see if your lawn is the right type for water savings and that you are caring for it properly.
WEB SITES:

http://www.ouc.com/green/water.htm#01

http://www.20gallonchallenge.com/residenttips.html

Save buckets of money ... in your shower

Most of us enjoy lingering in the cooling or warming spray of a shower, but that's where a lot of water--and money--literally go down the drain so sing shorter songs and turn off the water while lathering up or washing your hair and then turn it back on to rinse. Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. A 10-minute shower uses about 45 gallons of water. Test your shower's water use. If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds you need to replace it with a water-efficient showerhead. Their inexpensive and easy to install and can keep water and money from going down the drain.
Web sites:

http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100ways/sw.shtml

http://www.20gallonchallenge.com/residenttips.html

Capture water everywhere

If you stop to think about it, a lot of water goes down your drains that could be used again. Here are some ideas for capturing that water for reuse: If you run the shower to get the water hot, stick a bucket in there and use that water for your garden. If Mother Nature does send rain, use a barrel to capture it for household or garden use. While rinsing hand dishes, capture the rinse water in a pan or bucket for use in the garden or on the lawn. Need a cold drink? Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running 5 gallons to get it cold enough. When you freshen you aquarium water, use the old water on your garden or plants. These all seem minor but adding them up can mean substantial water savings.

Web sites:

http://yosemite.epa.gov/OPA/ADMPRESS.NSF/8401b8750376e55085257359003d480...!

http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100ways/sw.shtml

Watch the water - Take steps to cut water use such as installing faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, and low-flush toilets. As much as 19% of California electricity is used to pump, transport and treat water. And much of your natural gas bill goes to water heating. If you don't have them already, low-flow showerheads and faucets can drastically cut your hot water heating expenses. Saves of 10-16% of water-heating costs. Cost: Well under $20 for most showerheads, a little more for faucets. Rebate: $3 per showerhead, $1 per faucet aerator.

Become a leak detective

There are many ways to conserve water at home, but one of the first things you should do is become a leak detective. In the long run, this may save you the most water and the most money. You can do this yourself if you're handy around the house or hire a reputable professional plumber. Check, or have the professional check, all the water connections, pipes in, under and connected to your home. You may be losing gallons a day due to undetected leaks. Also, some governmental entities in your area may provide assistance on this. Check with your city and county government agencies that deal with water issues.
Web sites: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water/simple.htm#fix
http://www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation/survey.shtml

Evian spelled backrds is Naive - Skip bottled water and save money and Mother Nature

The price differential between bottled and tap water per year is wider than one might imagine. Therefore, companies and individuals should avoid purchasing bottled water. One author stated it best: "Ditching bottled water keeps Mother Nature and your wallet green." It costs between $1500-$2000 per year to drink bottled water versus 50 cents per year to drink tap water. There are so many environmental controls on both tap water & bottled water. The risk from bottled water is the plastic container and the risk of tap water in 2008 is potentially corroded pipes in which the tap water travels. Another plus for not using plastic bottles is that they are not biodegradable and therefore pollute our already endangered environment.

Web Sites:

http://yosemite.epa.gov/OPA/ADMPRESS.NSF/8401b8750376e55085257359003d480...!

http://yosemite.epa.gov/OPA/ADMPRESS.NSF/8401b8750376e55085257359003d480...!

http://www.filterforgood.com/learn_the_facts.php